It’s true that having the right equipment will certainly help your game, but you don’t need to break the bank and equip yourself with the top gear.
When starting out, make learning, not buying, your top priority. In the beginning, you should focus on getting the sort of equipment that will help you develop your skills. If you put in the time, there will come a day when you can go after the hottest pro gear on the market.
Although you are allowed to carry as many as fourteen clubs in your bag, you won’t need that many when you’re starting out.
Start with a driver, a putter, a sand wedge and include an 8-iron, a 6-iron, a pitching wedge, and a fairway wood with 18 to 21 degrees of loft. These are the most forgiving clubs and the easiest to get airborne. You can find good used drivers and putters online, but also, most big box golf retailers and sporting goods stores offer discounted and used clubs.
When it comes to selecting clubs that are right for you – try before you buy!
For absolute beginners looking to fill your first bag of clubs, you can go to a driving range or large golf shop and ask them to let you try a 6-iron with a regular-flex shaft and a stiff-flex shaft, one of these two should feel easier to control than the other. That tells you the “shaft flex” you should start with for all the clubs you buy. Once you’re able to make consistent contact with the ball, a club-fitting will allow you to get the most out of your equipment.
Go for maximum “loft”. Unless you’re an experienced athlete, you should choose woods that have more loft. Typically, extra loft means it will be easier to get the ball in the air. It can also reduce “sidespin” so your shots fly straighter. Look for drivers with at least 10 degrees of loft and fairway woods at a minimum of 17 degrees.
Choose clubs that are made for beginners. For example, you’ll be better off with hybrid clubs instead of 3, 4, and 5-irons. Irons with wider soles decrease the odds that the club will stick in the ground when you hit too far behind the ball. Also, clubs with more weight concentrated in the sole have a lower center of gravity. This can help your shots take-off at a higher trajectory.